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Patrimonito

Patrimonito's World Heritage Adventures

Patrimonito means 'small heritage' in Spanish and the character represents a young heritage guardian. Patrimonito has been widely adopted as the international mascot of the World Heritage Education Programme.

Patrimonito was created in 1995 by a group of Spanish-speaking students during a workshop at the 1st World Heritage Youth Forum held in Bergen, Norway. The young students designed Patrimonito on the basis of the World Heritage Emblem which symbolizes the interdependence of cultural and natural sites: the central square is a form created by people and the circle represents nature, the two being intimately linked; the emblem is round like the world and at the same time a symbol of protection.

Cuba (Havana) Trailer

Havana was one of the Caribbean's key hubs of ship-building in the 17th century. It retains today a mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments, making it the most impressive historic city centre in the Caribbean. Patrimonito embarks on his first adventure and discovers what is happening to the old city today.

Norway (Urnes Stavkirke)

The wooden church of Urnes (the stavkirke), built in the 12th and 13th centuries is an outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture bringing together traces of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial structures. Fire is one of the main threats to this site. Patrimonito finds his way to Urnes to help residents protect one of the few remaining wooden churches in Norway.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups (the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island) and are home to 126 bird species, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world. Invasive animal species, weeds and fire are all major threats. Patrimonito understands that he has to get rid of the animal pests to preserve the unique native birds and ecosystems at this site.

Ethiopia (Lalibela)

Lalibela is a holy city for Ethiopian Christians thanks to its 11 medieval rock-hewn churches which attract tens of thousands of pilgrims and visitors every year. But the stone surfaces are being eroded by weathering and urgently need restoration. Patrimonito realizes that international cooperation is a key to their preservation.

Russian Federation (Novgorod)

Novgorod was Russia's first capital in the 9th century, a major centre of Russian culture and Orthodox spirituality as well as of Russian architecture. Patrimonito takes his magic suitcase along to help students decrypt some of the treasures they unearth at an excavation site in Novgorod.

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda (The Virunga Mountains)

The Virunga Massif located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, is one of the richest biological areas of the world, home to endangered mountain gorillas and hippopotamuses. The region has been the scene of some of the world's most tragic human conflicts since 1990. Patrimonito and his young African friend witness the impact of massive poaching which threatens biodiversity in the area.

Australia (The Great Barrier Reef)

The Great Barrier Reef on the north-east coast of Australia contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs and home to hundreds of thousands of fish species. Patrimonito and the young Australians witness that the climate change and pollution are threatening the ecosystem. Together, they take action to raise awareness among their peers and decrease pollution.

Spain (Old Town of Avila)

The Old Town of Ávila encloses 82 semicircular towers and nine medieval gateways dating back to the 11th century. Fire is one of the threats to this site. Patrimonito and the young people learn about preparing efficient prevention plans to manage the risk and to access the site in case of threats.

Peru (City of Cuzco)

The City of Cuzco still retains traces of the Incan Empire as archeological heritage. It reinforces the identity and dignity of its local communities. Patrimonito and his friends from Peru call on the local community in preservation of the heritage, through Inti Raymi Celebration.

Lebanon (Ouaid Qadisha and the Forest of the Cedars of gods)

The Qadisha valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world. The trees in the Cedar Forest are survivors of a sacred forest and one of the most highly prized building materials of the antique world. Patrimonito and young people help to rebuild the Forest with local species of trees and protect it against deforestation.

Republic of Korea (Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple)

The Temple of Bulguksa and the Seokguram Grotto, famous for the monumental statue of Buddha, form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance. The Grotto faced a series of threats due to moisture and condensation. Patrimonito and young people take action to raise awareness among the local and international communities about the preservation of the site that require further development of conservation technology.

China(The Great Wall)

The Great Wall, also known as the 'Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li' to Chinese, is a complex of defensive structures built to ward off invasion of the Celestial Empire. Patrimonito mobilizes the young people to join in the efforts to protect and preserve the World Heritage site that has been weathered by the time.

Patrimonito Storyboard Competition

In 2002 a cartoon series entitled Patrimonito's World Heritage Adventures was launched where Patrimonito introduces World Heritage sites, the threats they are facing and proposes solutions to preserve them.

Storyboards were chosen following a competition among secondary school pupils to raise their awareness of the importance of World Heritage and their role in preserving it. The competition was organized by UNESCO on the occasion of the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in 2002. The award-winning storyboards are professionally animated and produced in CD-ROM format for global diffusion to schools and at World Heritage Youth events.

The cartoon films are based on storyboards made ‘by young people for young people' and selected during a Patrimonito Storyboard Competition. They are proving to be useful teaching support materials. They are becoming popular at events held by UNESCO.

Using the Patrimonito image

The purpose of the Patrimonito image is to popularize and promote awareness of World Heritage preservation and conservation as well as the activities of the Centre among young people. In line with this, the use of the Patrimonito image for personal, educational, cultural, non-profit, and non-commercial purposes should be encouraged.

Use of the Patrimonito character is regulated on the basic principles of copyright protection. The utilization of the character of Patrimonito requires prior authorization on the part of UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Principles for using Patrimonito image

The Patrimonito image/name should be utilized for all projects substantially associated with the World Heritage Education Programme, its objectives and activities. The main criterion for approval should be the educational, scientific, cultural, or artistic value of the proposed product related to World Heritage principles and values.

A decision to approve the use of the Patrimonito image/name should be linked strongly to the quality and content of the product with which it is to be associated, not on the volume of products to be marketed or the financial return expected.

Approval should not routinely be granted to place the Patrimonito image/name on products that have no, or extremely little, educational value. Exceptions to this policy will be considered for special events, such as WH Education forums, training courses, seminars, workshops, meetings and conferences. Request for such uses should specifically document the manner in which the proposed use is expected to enhance World Heritage Education.

Any decision with respect to authorizing the use of the Patrimonito image/name must be completely unambiguous and in keeping with the explicit and implicit goals of World Heritage Education.

Except when authorized in accordance with these principles it is not legitimate for commercial entities to use the Patrimonito image/name directly on their own material to show their support for World Heritage.

Use of the Patrimonito image/name by other contracting parties should normally only be authorized when the proposed use relates directly to World Heritage Education. Requests accompanied by the recommendation and/or approval of the national authorities of the countries concerned should be considered for approval.